Vytautas Magnus University

VMCOLAB

European Co-Laboratory for the Integration of Virtual Mobility in Higher Education Innovation and Modernisation

  • Number of the Project: 527770-LLP-1-2012-1-BE-ERASMUS-ESMO
  • Duration of the project: 1/10/2012 – 30/09/2015
  • Budget: 1.240.104,19 Litas
  • Main executor: Erasmus projects
  • Institution at VMU: Innovative Studies Institute
  • Responsible person (s) at VMU: Airina Volungevičienė

Aim of the project

To contribute to the innovation and internationalization of European Higher Education Institutions by exploiting the full potential of ICT and Virtual Mobility and broadening the access to an international learning experience for all European students.

Actors involved

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, KU Leuven, Coimbra Group of Universities, European Foundation for Quality in e-Learning, SCIENTER, University of Granada, University of Padova, University of Porto, United Nations University.

Short description of the project

The main objective of the VMCOLAB project is to contribute to the innovation and internationalisation of European Higher Education Institutions by exploiting the full potential of ICT and Virtual Mobility and broadening the access to an international learning experience for all European students. Concretely the project will result in support materials and services for those wanting to engage in virtual mobility experiences.

The project results are aimed at three main stakeholder groups which have an interest in engaging in virtual mobility experiences: higher education institutions (HEI leaders/executive staff as well as academic and administrative staff), students, and policy makers. The VMCOLAB project brings together 10 partners from 7 different European countries. The consortium is composed of higher education institutions as well as European associations/networks of higher education institutions, which can ensure a wide distribution of project results among the above-mentioned target groups

During its first year, the project established following results:

  • A Quality Assurance handbook for Virtual Mobility
  • A Virtual Mobility Integration Kit
  • Two Virtual Mobility Awareness Seminars (with four more to come during the second project year)
  • A Students’ Guide to Virtual Mobility
  • The “Virtual4Me” website virtual4me.vmcolab.eu
  • Piloting guidelines
  • Startup of three pilot projects: (1) a pilot on Water Management, led by KU Leuven; (2) a pilot on Open Educational Resources, led by Vytautas Magnus University; and (3) a pilot Career Service Staff Training, led by the University of Padova.